what questions to ask lawyer about divorce

by Tiana Bosco 9 min read

21 Questions To Ask a Divorce Lawyer During Your First Visit

  1. How Much Experience Do You Have In Divorce And Is It Your Specialty? Experience counts. Oftentimes, a lawyer’s or law...
  2. What Is The Divorce Process Like? You’ll want to ask what you and your spouse will go through in the divorce process.
  3. How Do You Think The Judge Will Rule In My Divorce Case? If you...

Ten Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney
  • Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? ...
  • What is your strategy for my case? ...
  • How long do you take to return phone calls? ...
  • Will anyone else in your office be working on my case? ...
  • How will you charge me?

Full Answer

What should you look for in a divorce attorney?

Nov 23, 2021 · 21 Questions To Ask a Divorce Lawyer During Your First Visit 1. How Much Experience Do You Have In Divorce And Is It Your Specialty? Experience counts. Oftentimes, a lawyer’s or law... 2. What Is The Divorce Process Like? You’ll want to ask what you and your spouse will go through in the divorce ...

What does it take to become a divorce lawyer?

This is an important question for two reasons. First, it will test the divorce attorney's knowledge and experience of the divorce process and divorce law. Second, it will educate you on what specifically the attorney can and will do with you to help mitigate the costs. Do not settle for a generic answer.

What to discuss with your divorce lawyer?

– About Divorce. There are several questions to ask a divorce lawyer during a consultation. Namely, you are going to want to know how good your chances are of getting what you want. For example, some people want certain assets or property over their partner. This is a question you can put to a divorce lawyer to give you an honest answer. Alimony

What are the best questions to ask a lawyer?

Sep 24, 2021 · Also, you want a lawyer who’ll help you set achievable divorce goals. An attorney who is not afraid to tell you the truth, especially when you’re unrealistic. 6. How Much Do You Charge? The other question to ask the divorce lawyer …

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What to ask for during a divorce?

5 Things To Make Sure Are Included In Your Divorce Settlement
  • A detailed parenting-time schedule—including holidays! ...
  • Specifics about support. ...
  • Life insurance. ...
  • Retirement accounts and how they will be divided. ...
  • A plan for the sale of the house.
Sep 14, 2017

What questions should I ask my lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation
  • 1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?
  • 2) What would be your strategy for my case?
  • 3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?
  • 4) What are my possible outcomes?
  • 5) Who will actually handle my case?
  • 6) What is my role in my case?
Jan 29, 2017

What should you do before asking for a divorce?

7 Things You Should Do Before Asking For a Divorce
  • Educate Yourself on the Divorce Process Terminology. ...
  • Think Over Your Decision. ...
  • Organize Your Finances. ...
  • Protect Your Online Accounts. ...
  • Consider Custody. ...
  • Living Arrangements. ...
  • Talk to an Attorney.

What a man should ask for in a divorce settlement?

Look for tax returns, bank statements, brokerage statements, employee benefit statements (401K plans, pension and retirement funds), home and business ownership documents, insurance policies, wills, trusts and any other financial document that may play a role in your divorce settlement.

What lawyers should not tell?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your Lawyer
  • I forgot I had an appointment. ...
  • I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ...
  • I have already done some of the work for you. ...
  • My case will be easy money for you. ...
  • I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ...
  • Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.
Mar 17, 2021

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.
  • How long have you practiced law? ...
  • What type of cases do you generally handle? ...
  • Who is your typical client? ...
  • How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?
Apr 13, 2018

How should a woman prepare for a divorce?

9 Critical Steps Women Should Take To Prepare For Divorce
  1. Gather your financial records. ...
  2. Open a Post Office Box. ...
  3. Start putting money away for legal and other professional fees. ...
  4. Open a new checking and savings account. ...
  5. Open new credit cards in your name only. ...
  6. Get a copy of your credit report.

What happens when you file for divorce first?

If you file first, you control when the divorce gets filed. You can decide to cancel the divorce, as long as she hasn't filed a response. You have until your spouse files an answer to your complaint to cancel the divorce. By filing first you are the plaintiff and she will be the defendant.

Who regrets divorce more?

The recent Annual Relationship, Marriage, and Divorce Survey conducted by Avvo online marketplace for legal services found that men are more likely to regret breaking up than women. Of the 254 divorced women surveyed, only 27% said they regretted their divorce.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce?

Assets that you have built up or acquired during the period of marriage are known as matrimonial assets or marital assets. These typically include property, pensions, savings, personal belongings, and cash in the bank.

What are the four main issues in divorce?

Four Primary Issues in Divorce
  • Property Division. Almost every marital estate includes assets and debts. ...
  • Spousal Maintenance. ...
  • Custody and Parenting Time. ...
  • Child Support.
Jan 24, 2013

How can a man protect himself in divorce?

Men, Protect Your Rights in a Divorce With These 3 Secrets
  1. Divulge Any and All Assets That You Own. There will be a request for you to list all of the assets that you own. ...
  2. Ask for Custody Immediately. If you have children, ask for custody early on in the divorce proceedings. ...
  3. Ask for Spousal Support.
Aug 27, 2017

What to ask a divorce lawyer for the first time?

When discussing with your divorce lawyer for the first time, it’s crucial to ask for testimonials from past clients.

What should an experienced divorce lawyer show you?

An experienced divorce lawyer should show you how much you can discuss with your spouse and examples of off-limit discussions.

What happens if an attorney has a high caseload?

If an attorney has a high caseload, it may put you in the backlog, leading to negligence and jeopardizing the divorce process.

What is a good divorce lawyer?

Good divorce lawyers are excellent communicators. They must be available to answer your questions at any time while reaching you for information if need be.

What happens if you don't hire a lawyer?

However, if you’re unable to hire a good lawyer, you’ll struggle to make a case, and the divorce may end up unfavorably.

What is collaborative divorce?

Collaborative divorce is mostly an out-of-court agreement to dissolve a marriage on peaceful terms.

Is a divorce attorney a service?

The divorce attorney is offering a service. Most service providers don’t get it right at the first attempt. While they get better over time, you don’t want to be a source of experience to the lawyer.

How often do attorneys talk to their clients?

Some attorneys will talk to their clients on a weekly basis or more. Other attorneys will only talk to their clients when their clients contact them. Yet other attorneys religiously follow the one phone call a month to do an overview strategy session no matter how many times the client has talked to the attorney in the past 30 days. There isn’t a right answer, but it’s good to know in advance what the scope of communication will be.

How to prepare for alimony?

Alimony is a numbers game. Sometimes the best way to prepare and present the back alimony case is to play the numbers game using experts. For example, forensic accounting experts and vocational rehabilitative experts can help support or defend an alimony claim.

What is the greatest tragedy in divorce cases?

The greatest tragedy in divorce cases is when a custody battle spirals out of control for months or even years. The attorneys have a lot of say in controlling or mitigating some of the emotional responses in these cases and keeping things under control.

What is collaborative divorce?

What is a collaborative divorce and am I eligible for one? A collaborative divorce model is one that focuses on a win-win settlement agreement. You can consider it the opposite of going to court. Does the attorney you’re meeting with think that this is a reasonable possibility in your case? Why or why not?

What is a good deal in a case?

Even if your case does not step foot in a courtroom, it’s good to have an understanding of how the law works to get a basic idea of what is a good deal in your case. Of course, a good deal also accounts for subjective things like your particular needs or your spouse’s particular needs.

How to know if you're getting a reasonable deal?

This requires a lot of trust, so the best thing you can do is check the attorney out thoroughly at the beginning of the process, so you understand how you guys will work together.

Is it better to settle a divorce case or go to trial?

In your opinion, is it better for a case to settle or go to trial? For the vast majority of people, the best divorce cases are the ones that are settled by agreement. For a minority of cases, especially ones with domestic violence or other issues of impaired parenting, a beeline for trial is the best course of action.

What to know when hiring a divorce lawyer?

That’s why you should check out the track record of the lawyer you intend to hire.

How to smooth things out with divorce lawyer?

To smoothen things, you need to establish effective communication between you and your divorce attorney. So, when hiring this lawyer, you need to discuss how you’ll be communicating. You want to know the specific communication channels you’ll be using.

How to expedite divorce?

To expedite the divorce process, you need to hire a competent attorney. That’s why you need to know the right questions to ask your divorce lawyer. You want to ensure that he/she has the right skillsets to handle your case.

What can a divorce lawyer do for you?

Besides, an experienced divorce lawyer will help you develop realistic goals. In many instances, divorcing couples tend to be too emotional to make objective decisions. Some of them fight for things that they don’t even want just to hurt others.

Does experience matter in divorce?

Some people argue that experience doesn’t matter as long as the divorce lawyer has the right academic qualifications. However, this is inaccurate as you need an attorney who has been in this field for many years. The reason is that this lawyer has handled numerous divorce cases and knows which strategies work and the ones that don’t.

Does a divorce lawyer have legal support?

So, this lawyer has legal support from other attorneys and will deliver amazing services. For instance, this attorney will get help when filing your divorce paperwork. So, you can trust this lawyer to expedite the process and ensure you get a settlement soon.

What can a lawyer do for you?

A lawyer can advise you on the ways to protect yourself and your assets. These can save you a lot of money and aggravation down the road, as your divorce proceeding continues.

Can you have multiple lawyers working on your case?

Your first meeting with a lawyer might be with a single person or multiple people, but do not be alarmed if you are told multiple people are working on your case. Different lawyers with ranging skill levels and experience will usually work on your case. Achieving a favourable ruling is a collaborative effort. Typically work is driven to the person with the lowest hourly rate who can do the work that is necessary. This may include: associates, clerks, assistants and students.

Do divorce cases need to be settled out of court?

Some divorce cases can be settled out of court, so there is not always a need for a trial.

What is the most contentious aspect of divorce?

Dividing up property a couple has acquired throughout their marriage (also known as marital property) can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce. Luckily, divorce attorneys can help alleviate some of your legal and financial stresses by advocating for a division of property that works in your favor.

Is divorce exhaustive?

As you can see, the above list extensive -- yet, it is not exhaustive. Every divorce is different since every couple enters and leaves a marriage under different circumstances and with different assets. Therefore, to ensure no property is overlooked, it is always a good idea to have an open and frank conversation with your attorney regarding all ...

Is it a good idea to have an open and frank conversation with your attorney regarding all of the property

Therefore, to ensure no property is overlooked, it is always a good idea to have an open and frank conversation with your attorney regarding all of the property and assets relevant to your case.

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